Clark: June 21, 1806

Saturday June 21st 1806 We collected our horses early and Set out on our
return to the flatts. we all felt Some mortification in being thus
compelled to retrace our Steps through this tedious and difficuelt part of
our rout, obstructed with brush and innumerable logs and fallen timber
which renders the traveling distressing and even dangerous to our horses.
one of Thompsons horses is either choked this morning or has the distemper
badly. I fear he is to be of no further Survice to us. an excellent horse
of Cruzatt’s snagged himself So badly in the groin in jumping over a
parcel of fallen timber that he will eventually be of no further Survice
to us. at the pass of Collin’s Creek we met two indians who were on their
way over the mountains, they had brought with them the three horses and
the Mule which had left us and returned to the quawmash ground. those
indians returned with us about 1/2 a mile down the Creek where we halted
to dine and graze our horses. as well as we Could understand the indians
they informed us they had Seen Geo Drewyer & Shannon, and that they
would not return untill the expiration of two days. the cause why Drewyer
& Shannon did not return with these men we are at a loss to account
for. we pressed those indians to remain with us and conduct us over the
Mountains on the return of Drewyer & Shannon. they consented to remain
two nights for us and accordingly deposited their Stores of roots &
Bread in the bushes at no great distance and after Dinner returned with
us, as far as the little prarie about 2 Miles distance from the Creek,
here they halted with their horses and informed us they would remain
untill we overtook them or at least 2 nights. they had four Supernoumery
horses with them. We Sent on four hunters a head to the quawmash flatts to
make an evening hunt; they So far Suckceeded as to kill one deer. We left
R. and Jo. Fields at the Creek where we dined, and Sergt. Gass in order to
hunt about that place untill our return. at 7 in the evening we found
ourselves once more at our old encampment where we Shall anxiously await
the return of Drewyer & Shannon.